How long does an ACL injury take to heal? Recovery times and possible return dates explained

One of the most commonly cited player-welfare concerns in the modern game is about the number of matches that take place every season, and the reduced rest that the footballers who make the sport what it is receive.

The expanded World Cup (which featured 48 teams) has seen some players rack up a worrying number of appearances, with Declan Rice running out 71 times for club and country in 2025-26, for example.

That exceptional workload will undoubtedly lead to an increase in major injuries for the 2026-27 campaign, with dreaded anterior cruciate ligament problems - perhaps the most famous of all significant injuries - correlated with increased physical strain and demands.

When an individual goes down and requires treatment, fans' first worries are often that a member of their team has torn their ACL, as they are aware that recovery requires an extended spell on the sidelines.

With that in mind, Sports Mole answers the question in detail: How long does an ACL injury take to heal?

What is an ACL injury?

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a tough band of tissue found in the knee that connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone) and the patella (kneecap).

It runs diagonally through the middle of the knee and gives the knee joint stability, helping control the back-and-forth movement of the lower leg.

The ACL is the most commonly injured knee ligament by athletes who participate in high demand sports and is regarded as one of the worst to have as a footballer.

They occur when the ligament is either stretched, partially torn, or completely torn, the latter being the most common. Footballers typically sustain the injury due to a sudden stop or change of direction, an awkward landing or a collision from a tackle.

How long does an ACL injury take to heal?

ACL injuries are graded from one to three based on severity.

Grade 1 ACL injuries are typically a mild to moderate ligament strain or pull and the ligament can still provides adequate stability to the knee joint.

Recovery can take between two to four weeks with adequate rest and physical therapy.

Grade 2 ACL injuries are a partial tear, with the ligament stretched to the point where it is loose and not providing the knee with full stability.

Recovery can take up to three months with adequate rest and physical therapy.

Grade 3 ACL injuries are a complete tear of the ligament that has been torn in half or pulled directly off the bone, resulting in severe pain, swelling and not providing the knee with full stability.

Athletes may be required to undergo surgery and extensive rehabilitation to mend the damage, and a full recovery can take between six and 12 months.

What are the risks of returning early from an ACL injury?

Most athletes who sustain ACL injuries make a full recovery and resume their sporting careers with no long-term consequences, but athletes react differently to the treatment and lengthy time away from their sport and some struggle to return to the same level.

For some athletes, this may depend on whether they are required to undergo surgery or not. In some cases, though, delaying surgery could cause further damage to the knee, making it give way or become unstable.

As is the case with most, if not all, sporting injuries, athletes that return too soon significantly increase the risk of re-injury, regardless of the athlete's age.

Younger athletes, especially those under the age of 25, are more susceptible to re-injury, though older athletes coming towards the end of their careers could face additional challenges such as slower healing and muscle imbalances.

Psychological factors, such as the fear of sustaining the same injury, can also impact an athlete's ability to return to sport safely.

It is advised that athletes receive regular physiotherapy treatment and delay their return to sport (especially post-surgery) until the ACL is fully healed when they can demonstrate adequate strength, stability and movement control with the knee.

High profile examples of ACL injuries

Michael Owen famously suffered an ACL injury during the 2006 World Cup. He later admitted that earlier in his career, he pushed himself back too soon from other injuries and that those decisions had long-term effects.

A more recent example of a high-profile ACL injury concerns Rodri, who picked up the problem in his right knee during a clash between Manchester City and Arsenal in September 2024.

The Spaniard returned to action in May 2025, coming off the bench for eight minutes against Bournemouth, but he struggled to return to his best until the tail end of the 2025-26.

Thankfully, the Ballon d'Or winner seems to have put his injury firmly in the past, collecting the Golden Ball award as he captained Spain to World Cup glory in North America.

How long does an ACL injury take to heal? Recovery times and possible return dates explained

What is an ACL injury?

How long does an ACL injury take to heal?

What are the risks of returning early from an ACL injury?

High profile examples of ACL injuries

Football injury recovery guides